Cotton-harvester.



G. N. GOODWIN.

GOTTON HARVESTBR. v APPLIOATION FILED F3313, 1909. I

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

R a a 0 1 v "1| L n m mum I wit" zones x fat wanton G. N. GOODWIN. COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLIGATION FILED 33.13, 1909.

Patented N0v.-2,1909.

5 SKEETS-BHBBT 2.

f S N xfot attain" U. N. GOODWIN.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APBLIOATION FILED PHIL-13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

5 SHE'ETSSHEET a.

Snueutoz 2/ human G. N. GOODWIN.

COTTON HARVESTEIL.

APPLIOATION FILED 33.13, 1909.

Patented NW. 2, 1999*.

5 SHEETS-$151331 4.

gnoznto'c Witness;

' G. N. GOODWIN.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13,1909.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

ESEHETS-SEEET 5.

UNITED STATES" Iguana? orriion oLARnNonN. eoonwm, or wAsniNe'roN, msrnror or cotmvrsra.

CGTTON-I-IARVESTER.

Speeificatienof Letters Patent.

Patented N 723, more Application filed. February 13, 1909. Serial No. 477,731.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CLARENCE N, Goon- WIN, a citizen of the United Siates, residing at Vashington, in the District if Columbia, have invented a new and useful jottond-larvester, of which the following is a specific atron. I v

This ini' entionhas relation to cotton harvesters, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as herein after shown and described. I

The object of the invention is to provide a cotton har'vester in which a frame is included which carries mechanism for removing the bolls from cotton plants, and which is pivotally mounted with relation to a wheelsupported axle or running-gear. A draft means is connected with the said frame and is adapted to swing horizontally with the frame whereby the position of the frame may be reversed with relation to the axle 0r running gear, so that the implement may be brought to} a :reverse work facing position at the end-eta w of cotton plants without necessitating the-:fturning of the axle or runhing-gem. In connection with the said reversible draft means a frame locking mechanism is provided whereby the said frame and draft means is rigidly secured in either of its positions with relation to the axle or running-gear. A master-wheelie carried by i the axle or running-gear, and a master shaft is journaled for rotation upon the said frame and is provided at its opposite ends with gear wheels which are adapted to be brought alternately in mesh with the said master wheel. 7 v I v A further object of the invention is to provide, in a cotton harvester, a reciprocatory picker journaled for rotation, and means for removing leaves and; sticks from the cotton while it is onthe-picker, and also means for stripping the cotton from the picker. Resilient fingers aremounted at the work-engaging end of the picker, and are adapted to el'igage the fiberof the bolls, and it is by reason of such contact between the fingers and the fiber of the bolls-that the latter are removed from the stems and carried toward a conveyer mounted for movement adjacent the picker, which conveyer is adapted to convey thestaple to a conveyer common to all of the first said conveyors, from which it. is

carried to a convenient place, where it may be bagged or deposited in receptacles pro vided for its reception,

A further object of the invention is to provide, as a modification, a pneumatic conveyer which is adapted to remove the cotton from the point of delivery from the picker to the conveyer common to all of the first said conveyer-s; and, in connection with the pneumatic conveyer, is provided means for closing the port of ,a chamber into which the work-engaging end of the picker retracts when it delivers the cotton. Said means consists of a valve which is actuated by a blast of air which serves as a medium conveying the cotton from the said chamber, and the said pneumatic conveyer is rendered active only at the end of the refractory stroke of the picker. The reciprocatory movement of the picker occurs in horizon tal line or plane, and preparatory to removing the cotton bolls from the branches, means 7 is provided for positioning the said branches, in order that the operation'of removing the staple therefrom may be facilitated. The said means consists of opposed shields or guides, which are flared at their forward Tend portions, and through which the said picker, or a series of pickers, is adapted to operate.

In the employment of a series of pickers,

Qthey are arranged at difierent elevations, and a separate means 1s provided for operating each picker, while a means common to all of the said operating means is provided for actuating the same, thelast said means being operatively connected with the above referred to master shaft.

Inasmuch as the branches of a cotton plant are thlckest near the ground and diminish in number toward the top of the plant, it is desirable that the work-engaging ends of some of the pickers should approach nearer the central stalk of the plant than others. This is essential, for the reason that the openbolls occur not only' at the outer ends of the branches, butalso at points within the general perimeter of the plant,

and therefore it isnecessary toprovide pickers to penetrate through the branches and engage those bolls which are located within the same.

It is one of the objects of the/present in-.

vention to so mount the pickers as to operate upon the plants in the manner last above Q I aeaooe provide a reciprocating picker as indicated with a series of resilient fingers, which are adapted to engage the fiber of the bolls, and

in connection with which is provided a stripping means for removing the staple from the said fingers at the end of the retractory stroke of the picker.

Again, it is necessary to so mount some of the pickers that should they come in contact with the thicker portionsof the stalks they may be temporarily checked in their .reciprocatory movement, to avoid breakage or damage to the parts of if machine, and

it is one of the objects of this invention to provide for such a contingency.

A still furtherv object of the invention isto'provide, as a means for actuating the pickers, shafts journaled for rotation which are provided with continuous helical peripheral grooves, and means attached to the said pickers for engaging the said grooves to eifect the reciprocatory movement'upon the part of the pickers as indicated.

WVhile the description of structure hereinafter given follows in detail that illustrated in thedrawings, it is to be understood that various changes in structure and minor de' tails may be resorted to, which changes do not amount to a departure from the spirit involved in the subject matter set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :F igure 1 is 'a. plan view of the cotton harvester with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the cotton harvester, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the harvester. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation, showing the means in common for actuating all of the pickers from the master shaft. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary diagr'ammatic View, illustrating the'manner in which the work-engaging ends of some of the pickers may approach nearer the central stalks of the plants than others. Fig. 6 is:

a detail sectional view, showing. the manner" in which the frame of the picker is pivotally connected with an axle or running-gear by means of a kingbolt. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of means 0 eratively connected with the master sha t for actuating endless belt conveyors and stoppers cooperating with the same. Fi 8 is a vertical sectional View of a series 0 pickers, showing the same in retracted and semi-retracted position. Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly in section, of means for locking the reversible draft means with relation to the runninggear of the harvester. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional, view of thepickers and adjacent parts, showing one of the pickers rlgidly another picker resiliently mounted for such movement. Fig. 11 is an end view of the work-engaging end of one of the pickers.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. i

13 is an enlarged side elevation of an end portion of a shaft employed to reciprocate a picker. Fig. 14: 1s a transverse sectional "view of a picker and attached parts, out on the line 1 114: of Fig. 10. Fig. '15 is a side elevation of the means for connecting the picker with the groove of the actuating shaft. .Fi 16 is a detail side elevation'of a pin use in the mechanism illustrated-in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a modified form of picker mechanism, showing the picker in projected position. Fig.

18 is a similar view, showing the picker in retracted position. Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional View of the picker, illustrated 1n Figs. 17 and 18, cut on the line'19'19 of Fig. 17. Figs. 20" and 21 are schematic views illustrating the manner in which the picker removes'the cotton from the bolls. Fig. 22 is a detail view of a portion of the frame of the harvester showing a prop pivoted thereto.

The cotton harvester includes a runninggear which consists of an axle 1, which is mounted at one end upon a ground wheel 2, and at its opposite end upon a traction wheel 3. A gear rim 4 is mounted for rotation-with the traction wheel 3 and is concentrically arranged with relation to the shaft 1. A king bolt 5 passes vertically through the middle of the axle 1, and is pivoted in the said axle. A seat post 6 is fixed to the upper portion of the bolt 5, and an operators seat 7 is mounted u on the upper end of the said post f. A disk 8 is pivoted upon the bolt 5 below the axle 1, and is fixed to the middle portion of a frame 9. The said frame 9 is fixed to the lower portions of the said hangers.

. Pinions 12 are mounted at the ends of the shaft 11, and are adapted to mesh with the 4. An approximately ovate draft frame 13 is fixed at one end portion with relation'to the axle 1, and the said frame 13 surrounds thetraction wheel 3 in a manner substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A cross beam 14 is supported within thefram'e 13, and a draft beam 15 is pivotedat one end to the said cross beam 14 A guide 16 is fixed to the draft 15, and receives the outer portion of the framifiiii, which portion is substantially semicircular in plan. The draft beam 15 lies transversely across the frame 13,,and a draft tongue 17 is attached to that end of the beam 15 which lies beyond the frame 13. A double-tree 18 is mounted upon the promounted for reciprocatory movement, and.) jecting portionof thebeam 15, and swingletrees 19 are attached to the ends of the odOuble tree 18 in the usual manner, An

. eye 20 it attached to the guide 16. A cable I is attached. at one end to the eye 20 and passes around a pulley 22. mounted upon the frame 13,. and "thence around the disk 8, and: then around av pulley 23, located at the opposite; side of the frame 13, and the other end of thesaid sable 21 is also attached to the eye 20. Steps 245 are niounted' at the opposite sides of thegframe l3 and are adapted to be engaged by the guides 16, and limit the swinging movement of the draft be m'l5. .4

Catches, are attached to the frame 13 in the vicinity of each of the stops 24: and each catch consists of a rocker arm 25, pivotally mounted in a depending lug 26, and connecting at one "end with a pin 27 adapted to. pass through. registering perforations provided in the stops 24 and the guides 16 and frame 13.v A cable 28 is attached 'to the other end of the rocker 25, and extends to the seat post 6 or other point within convenient reach of one occupying the seat 7.

Presuming that the parts are in the positions'shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the implement is drawn along a row of plants and operates upon the same in the 30 manner hereinafter to be explained, when the implement arrives at the end of the row the operator pulls that cable 28 which is attached to the rocker arm 25 engaging the pin 27 which passes through the registering perforations of the stop 24, guides 16 and frame 13. 'Thus the draft beam 15 is renderedfree to describe an are, and the draft animals may tinned arotmd. the outer al enate portion of the frarneiit, and 49 thus the cable 21 will be moved longitudnally, and, through the movement of the said cable, the disk 8 will be rotated with relation to the axle 1, and the king bolt5 will also berotated. Thus the seat post 6 isturned as is ism-the frame 9, and when theguides 1'6 arrive-at the stop 24: at the opposite sideof the'frame 18, a spring 29,

which-is operatively connected withgthe pin 27, forces ,the said pin at the oppositeside of.-.-the .frame 13 through the registering .perforation of the stop 2d and the guide 16 rand frame lfiwhenjsa id pin is released by Ixthe-operator. I, this; means the frame I 9 a and .itsattachments, together. with the draft 55.. means, is reversed With relationjo the axle 1, and .the implement may be drawnback along another row of standing plants, without turn- ,ingthe axlejl in-a horizontal plane. As the frame 9 is turned, ,as above, described, the so-gear wheel 12; which previously has been in mesh with the, master wheel is moved away fromthefstime, and the gear wheel 12-at the opposite. end of the shaft 11 is bIGUgl-ltdl'ltO mesh-with the master wheel. 4.

i .iBrackets 304 depend from the frame 9 and are approximately U-shaped in side eleva tion. Housings 31 are supported by the brackets 30- and are located at opposite side portions ofthe saidfraine D. Theinner other, and are provided at their forward ends withguides 32. The forward end portions of the guides 32 diverge fromeaelr other in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings The said guides 75 are adapted to engage the branches of the plants and position the same preparatory to the operation of the pickers, hereinafter to v be described, upon the staple carried by the said branches. A receptacle 33 is located at the rear end of each housing '31 and may be used for the purpose of receiving the staple. after it has been harvested, or, in lieu of the said receptacles, platforms may be provided, upon which bags may be placed to perform the same function. Endless conveyer belts 84 (best shown in Fig. 3) are mounted for orbital movement along the lower portions of the housing 31, and are adapted to communicate with tubes or other ea elevating devices, such for instance asis designated at '35, in Fig. 3, the sai tube, as shown, having its delivery end locrtedat the upper portion of the receptacle 33. The endless belt 34 may be operatively :onnected as by any desired mechanical means with the master shaft above referred to, and as such connection ismerely a matter of mechanical arrangement, it is thought that further reference thereto is unnecessary.

Proceeding now to adetailed description of the form of picker illustrated in Figs. 8 and it) ef drawings, be that r the picker eonsists cf non-eircu hir ieo heft to the work-engaging end of which are at 1-110 tached cruciform resilient fingers o7. Tin; end portions of the said fingers 37 project. beyond the side of the picker shaft A sleeve 38 is iournaied for rotation in the innerside portion of the housing 31, and flt chamber 39' surrounds the inner end of it said bushing and is provided with a head a; which, in turn, is provided witlia port 451. through which the picker shaft 36 is adapted to'project as it advances toward the br'anche ofthe plant. v A gear-wheel 42 is mounted upon the outerend of the sleeve 38, and the said sleeve 38 provided with a non-jcircular openingeii which snugly receives the picker shaft 3%. A shaft H-is journaled for rotation in the housing 31*and is provided at. one end'with' r gear wheel 45, which meshes with the .gear wheel 12. "The said shaft 44 is provided uponits periphery with a continuous helical 1 groove 46. An arm 47 is fixed to theou tc: end of the picker shaft 36 and is providet' with a pin or'lug 48, which enters the groove 46 in the shaft 514. Fig. 16 is a detailed side elevation of the said pin or' lug i8. A guide 1 faces of the housings are spaced from each -against the side of the housing 31, and

' outer end of the shaft 44 is'prov'ided with a sprocket wheel 50. A sprocket wheel 51 is mounted upon the master shaft 11', and an endless sprocket chain 52 passes over the sprocket wheel 51 and thence around sprocket wheels 53 and 54, journaled for rotation thence around all of the sprocket wheels 50 of the entire series of picker-operating shafts, in a'manner as illustrated in Fig. '4 of the drawings. Thus all of the pickeractuating shafts of the series derive motion from a common source, and it will be readily understood that as the shaft 44 rotates the' picker 36 is reciprocated, in the sleeve 38 by means of the pin-48 carried by the arm 47, which is located in the helical groove 46. At the same time, by reason of the fact that the shaft 4 f is rotated, rotary movement is transmitted throughthe inter-meshing gear Wheels 45 and 42 to the sleeve 38, and therefore the picker shaft 36 is rotated at the same time that it is reciprocated.

'By reference to Fig. 10 of the drawings, it

' will be observed that the connection between the picker shaft 36'and the actuating shaft 44, as illustrated at the upper portion of the figure, is positive, while the connection'between the said picker shaft 36 and the shaft 44, as illustrated at the lower portion of the from the branch at a weak stem. Then, as

toward the sleeve 38 the boll, with the hull said 'figure, is of a resilient nature; that is tosay, in the latter instance the picker shaft is slidably mounted in the arm 47 and a coil spring 55 is interposedbetween a collar 56, fixed to the outer end of the shaft 36 and the said arm 47, consequently,"."should the inner end of the picker 36 come in contact with an obstruction, the arm 47 may continue in its reciprocatory movement, while the said picker shaft will momentarily be brought to a state of rest, the said spring 55 compensating for the lost movement on the part of the picker, and as soon as the obstruction has been passed-the tension of the said spring comes ntoiplay and moves the picker 36 to its normal position with relation to the arm 47. Thus should the picker engage a large stalk of the plant it may, for a tlme, seek to advance-toward tho plant, and thusprovision is made for avoiding unnecessary damageto the machine by encountering obstructions as indicated.

It will be understood that as the .picker 36 advances toward the plant and rotates in the manner. stated that'as soon as the projecting fingers 37 engage the fiber of an open boll the said boll is g ven a slight twist which has the effect of sever ng the same amt of the the picker sha t 36 retracts trate a modified form of means remaining uponthe same is passed toward the port 41 ln-thc chamber head 40. When the boll arrives at this point the hull comes in contact with the edges of the said portand is cracked and'removed from the .cot-' ton. The said head acts in a-similar manner upon such leaves and stems as should adhere to the boll, and also by-reason of the fact that the boll is brought inconta'ct with the edges of the port 41 a greater portion of sand and grit which possibly is carried b the same, is liberated at that point, and fa-l s to the ground, As the picker 36 continues is carried into the chamber 39, a'ndwhen the fingers 37 come in contact with the end -in its retractive movement the cleaned boll of the sleeve 38 the said fingers are bent from their lateral relation with the 101i itudinal axis .of the picker 36 into aral el .relation and the boll is pushed from t e ends of the fingersby the end of the sleeve 38'. The cotton thus liberated. falls upon an endless belt conveyer 57 located below the inner end of the sleeve 38 and which, at its up-' per run, enters the-chamber 39. The conveyer 57 passes transversely through the housing 31, and, at its outer end, passes una der a dofling brush 58-, which is journaled for rotation at the outer portion of the said housing 31.

Countershafts 59' are journaled for rotation below the master shaft 11, and each counter shaft is provided with .a pinion 60 which meshes with a pinion 61 carried by the said master shaft 11. Beveled pinions 62- are also mounted u on the countershaft '59 and mesh with beve ed pinions 63 which are fixed to the shafts 64. The rear ends of the shafts 64 are provided with a pinion. 65 which meshes with a train of gear wheels 66; Each of the gear, wheels 66 is mounted upon a shaft. 67, and the said shafts 67 support the 'dotfer brushes 58. .Each shaft 67 provided with' a relatively small gear wheel 68 which ,meshes with a relatively large gear wheel 69, and the said gear wheels 69 are mounted upon the shafts 70, which ilctuate the endless conveyers 57. By this arrangement it will be seen that the shafts 67 and 70 rotate at different rates of speed, and that the; shafts 67 rotate faster than the shafts 70. Therefore, when thematerial. is carried backup'on the upper runs of the conveyers 57 and is en age b the dofier wheels 58, it'is remov from t esaidconveyers and cast into the side portion of the housing 31, and from thence falls upon the endless conveyer 34, as above described,

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 of the'drawin s 111118- or conveyin the cotton from the chamber 39, and

of which modification the following is a detailed description.

her 39 and normally lies upon the bottom of the said chamber, butis. so positioned that when swung upon lts hinge 1t isadapted to close against the valve seat 71 at the inner side, ofthe port 41. An air pipe 7 3 communicates with the chamber 39"at a point below the val ve 72 when the same is in its normal positionas above indicated. The pipe 73 is provided with'a valve7, which is normally;

retained in a ctosecl position by means of'a. spring 75. The stem of the valve 74 is lo cated in the path of movement of an arm or projection 76 carried by the arm 4:7. An

into thechamber 39 and removed from the educt onpipe' -77 communicates with the chamber 39 at a point between the end of the pipe 73 and the end of the'sleeve 38. Thus tav ll be seen that when the cotton is brought picking fingers in the manner as above described, that approximately at the same time the lug 76 carried by the arm 47. will strike the stem of the valve 74 and openthe said valve against the tension of the spring 7 5. Thus air, under pressure, is permitted to flow through the pipe 7 3, and, when the column of air. strikes the under side of the valve 7 2, the said valve is swung up upon itshinge and closed against the seat 71; Thus the chamber 39 is filled with compressed air and the cotton falls into the upturned mouth of the eduction pipe 7 7 As the only means of escape for the air from the chamber 39 is through the said eduction pipe, the cotton is I forced along the column of air and is conveyed to a delivery point. Inasmuch as the means for supplying compressed air for such devices is a matter of common knowledge, it is thought unziecessary to go into further detail in this specification to show or describe a matter so generally known.-

As soon as the picker 36 begins to advance toward the plant, and the lug 76 moves beyond the path of movement of the stem of the valve 74, the tension ofthe spring 75 comes into play and closes the said valve,'

and the valve 72 falls into its normal posi-' tion.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a continuous groove, a sleeve journaled for rotation, a picker slidably mounted in the sleeve, and means carried by the picker for engaging the groove in said shaft.

2. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a continuous groove,

a sleeve journaled for rotation, at picker slidably mounted-in the sleeve and rotating with the same, and means carried by the picker for engaging the roove in the said shaft.

3. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a continuous groove,

'7 a sleeve journaled for rotation and operasame and means carried bythe picker and engaging the groove in the said shaft.

5. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a continuous groove, a gear wheel mounted upon the said shaft, a sleeve journaled forrotation, a gear wheel carried by the sleeve and meshing with the first said gear wheel, a picker slidably mounted in the sleeve and rotating with the same, and means resiliently supported upon the plcker and engaging the groove in said shaft.

6. In a cotton harvester, a picker mounted for reciprocation, means for stripping the cotton from the picker, and a pneumatic conveyer for receiving the cotton from the picker, which conveyor is rendered active approximately at the end of the retractive stroke of the picker and inactive while the picker is projected.

7. In a cotton'harvester, a picker mounted for reciprocation, a stripper for the picker,

a chamber having a port through which the work engaging end of the picker may retract, a valve for closing said port, means for introducing air in the port to close said valve to convey the staple, and an educ tion pipe connected with the chamber.

8. In a cotton harvester, a plcker mounted for reciprocation, a stripper for the picker, a

chamber surrounding the stripper and having a port through which the work engaging end of the picker may retract, a valve located in the chamber, means for introducing air into the chamber to close the valve and to convey the staple removed from the picker, andan' eduction pipe connected with the chamber.

9. In a cotton harvester, a picker mounted for reciprocation, a stripper for the picker,

a chamber having a portthrough which the picker may retract, said port serving as a cleaner, a valve located in the chamber, means for introducing air into the chamber to close the valve, and to convey the staple removed from the picker, and an eduction pipe connected with the chamber.

10. In a cotton harvester, a picker mount ed for reciprocation, a stripper for the picker, a chamber having a port through which thc'picker may retract, a valved air pipe communicating with .the chamber,

7 means carried by the picker for opening thevalve upon the retractive stroke of the picker, and an eduction pipe connected with the chamber.

11. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a peripheral groove, a picker mounted for'reciprocation,

means mounted uponthe picker, and engaging the groove of the shaft, a strip er for the picker, a chamber having a port t rough which the picker may retract, a valved air pipe communicating 'with the chamber, means carried bythe picker for opening the valve in the said pipe at the retractivestroke of-the picker,'and an eduction pipe connected with said chamber.

12. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a groove, a picker mounted for reciprocation, means carried by the picker and engaging the groove of the shaft, a strip er for the picker, a chamber having a port t rough which the picker may retract, an air pipe communicating with the chamber and having a spring retained valve, means carried by the picker for openin the. valve u on the retractive stroke of t e picker, an an eduction pipe connected with the chamber.

13. In a cotton harvester, a shaft journaled for rotation and having a continuous groove, a picker-.mounted for reciprocation,

means carried by the' pickerand engaging the groove, of said shaft, astripper or the picker, a chamber having a port through which the picker may retract, a valved air pipe communicating with the chamber, means carried by the picker for opening the valve in said pi e upon the retractive stroke of the picker ans an eduction pipe communicating with the chamber.

14. In a cotton harvester, a picker'mountedfor reciprocation, a chamber for receiving the work engaging end of the picker at the end of the retractive stroke of the picker, and a pneumatic conveyer connected with the picker, which conveyer is rendered active near the .end of the retractive stroke of the picker, and inactive while the picker. is proected.

15. A cotton harvester comprising a wheel su ported axle, a pinion carried by the axle, a ame pivotally mounted with relation to the axle, pickers carried by the frame, a master shaft operatively connected with the pickers and carrying at its ends pinions, and

means for turning the frame to bring thepinion at either end of said shaft in mesh with thepinion carried by the axle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE N. eoonwm.

I WVitnesses:

E. DANIELS, JAs. M. WALKER.- 

